Customers were encouraged to purchase a paper candle at the checkout for $1 each and to write their names on the candles that were then displayed in the stores. Over the past 16 years, Giant/Martin’s has raised more than $26 million to support seven Children’s Miracle Network hospitals.

ASSISTANCE: The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP, will start offering crisis grants on Wednesday, Jan. 2 to provide emergency home heating support to those struggling to heat their home this winter.

The LIHEAP crisis grants are in place to address heating emergencies such as broken heating equipment, a lack of fuel, or a danger of being without fuel.

To expedite the crisis grant process, the department recommends completing an application online at www.compass.state.pa.us.

Paper applications are still available through local county assistance offices, or interested applicants can download and print an application from the department’s website.

GAS: The average price of a gallon of regular gas on Monday in the five-county Philadelphia area was $3.48, up a penny over the weekend and up 2 cents in the last week. In other areas, the average price of a gallon of regular gas on Monday was:

· Pennsylvania, $3.48, up 2 cents over the weekend and up 5 cents in the last week.

· South Jersey, $3.30, up 3 cents over the weekend and up 5 cents in the last week.

· Delaware, $3.42, up 4 cents over the weekend and up 6 cents in the last week.

· Nationwide, $3.29, up a penny over the weekend and up 4 cents in the last week.